# NTSB ANC06CA063: Grumman G-44, N141R, Willow, AK, May 26, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 26, 2006, 15:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Willow, AK
- Coordinates: 61.683334, -150.083328
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6833&lon=-150.0833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 64018
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC06CA063
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64018/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06CA063

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to retract the amphibian airplane's main landing gear prior to landing on a lake, which resulted in a nose over during touchdown.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Wheels down landing in water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wheels down landing in water - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - water
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

The commercial certificated pilot reported that he was landing his amphibian airplane on a lake during a Title 14, CFR Part 91 local flight.  He had departed a hard-surfaced runway about 15 minutes prior to landing on the lake.  The pilot noted during a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge that as the airplane touched the surface of the lake, it decelerated very quickly and then nosed over.  He said he and the sole passenger were able to exit the airplane through their respective side windows.  The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and it was likely that he failed to retract the main landing gear after takeoff from the hard surfaced runway.  An FAA inspector who responded to the accident site stated that the airplane had substantial structural damage to the nose section, and that the landing gear was in the down and locked position.

## Factual narrative

The commercial certificated pilot reported he was landing his amphibian airplane on a lake during a Title 14, CFR Part 91 local flight.  He had departed a hard-surfaced runway about 15 minutes prior to landing on the lake.  The pilot noted during a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge that as the airplane touched the surface of the lake, it decelerated very quickly and then nosed over.  He said he and the sole passenger were able to exit the airplane through their respective side windows.  The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and it was likely that he failed to retract the main landing gear after takeoff from the hard surfaced runway.  An FAA inspector who responded to the accident site stated that the airplane had substantial structural damage to the nose section, and that the landing gear was in the down and locked position.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N141R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N141R), registered now, S/N 1378, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Grumman G-44
- Registry model: [Grumman G-44](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-44) (registry code 3951502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Fairchild 6-440 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/fairchild-6-440-series) (registry code 26003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1378
- Engines: Lycoming GO-480B1D reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Steven Compton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PAVO, Willow, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,717 total, 55 in this make and model, 55 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20060526010369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060526010369A), May 26, 2006: Gulstm G44, Willow, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot departed Willow airport and entered pattern for water landing on long lake. Landing gear was not retracted. Upon touchdown, aircraft flipped…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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